February 2017

Security Cooperation
commentary
U.S. Should Test Russia on Islamic State
Andrew Parasiliti
Feb 28, 2017
Al-Monitor
The United States should consider accepting Russia's offer to help on ISIS, especially if the Trump administration is considering sending more troops or establishing safe zones in Syria.
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Law of the Sea
commentary
The New 'Normal' in the East China Sea
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris
Feb 27, 2017
The Diplomat
China and Japan are engaged in a long-term test of wills over disputed waters and territory in the East China Sea. The Japanese government has acknowledged the challenge it faces and has begun to invest in infrastructure and personnel projects to address it.
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization
commentary
Our NATO Partners Should Engage Trump in Brussels
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Hans Binnendijk
Feb 27, 2017
Newsweek
At May's NATO summit in Brussels, President Trump will be looking for a symbolic victory rather than a confrontation with 27 other national leaders. Therefore, Europe needs to create a positive outcome for him in advance.
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Public Health
essay
What Are the Social Determinants of Health?
Feb 24, 2017
Health care alone can only go so far to promote health. Evidence suggests that where and how people live plays at least as big a role in how well and how long they live.
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Alternative and Renewable Energy
commentary
Uncertainty and Complexity: Biomass Can Help on the Path to Deep Decarbonization
Aimee E. Curtright @ACurtright, Sara Turner
Feb 24, 2017
Pennsylvania Environmental Council
While biomass will almost certainly never become the dominant fuel for the electricity sector in the United States, it is still worth including as part of a menu of greenhouse gas mitigation strategies.
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Taiwan
commentary
Why China Should Feel Good About Taiwan
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Feb 22, 2017
Global Taiwan Brief
Chinese leaders should seek to engage in good-faith discussions with Taiwanese counterparts. Beijing should also recognize that Tsai's tentativeness about the new U.S. administration could change if cross-Strait military tensions escalate.
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Military Acquisition and Procurement
commentary
Acquisition in Transition
Irv Blickstein
Feb 21, 2017
RealClearDefense
The DoD acquisition system is complex and ever-changing. It requires a trained and active workforce that has the support of Congress. Allowing some of the reforms to take place in a measured fashion would be a wise choice for the new administration and Congress.
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Choice-Based Education Reform
commentary
How Parents Can Find Out What They Need to Know in an Era of School Choice
Andrew McEachin, Laura S. Hamilton
Feb 21, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
To make an informed choice about schools, parents need to know about the quality of instruction, services, and the overall school climate. Schools need a better system of measuring and collecting data on performance, and a way to make it accessible to families.
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commentary
Does the Court System Know as Much About Electronically Stored Information as Your Teenager? It Should.
Duren Banks, Brian A. Jackson
Feb 21, 2017
TechCrunch
Electronically stored information from smart appliances, fitness trackers, and other devices is making its way into the U.S. court system. Judges and lawyers need to better understand this evidence so they can challenge it or rule on its admissibility in court.
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Prison Reform
commentary
UK Prisons Are in 'Crisis,' So What Can Be Done to Improve Performance?
Emma Disley
Feb 20, 2017
Criminal Law and Justice Weekly
Prisons in the UK are experiencing record numbers of suicides and other violent incidents, as well as staff shortages. Policymakers working on prison reform need more effective ways to measure the performance of prison programs.
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commentary
We Still Know Little About Financial Well-Being
Marco Hafner, Christian Van Stolk
Feb 20, 2017
HRZone
There is a clear link between UK employees being concerned about their finances and negative health and well-being. The challenge for researchers is that financial well-being is hard to measure.
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China
commentary
China's Opportunity—and Ours
Michael J. Mazarr @MMazarr
Feb 19, 2017
U.S. News & World Report
A pivotal moment could be nearing for China's global role and its relationship with the United States. And America may be able to seize a historic opportunity to test Beijing's willingness to act as the co-sponsor of a stable world order.
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Postsecondary Education
commentary
Community Colleges Can Be 'First Responders' in Retraining Displaced Workers
Lindsay Daugherty
Feb 16, 2017
The Hill
Many of the occupations with the most opportunities require two-year degrees or certificates. Community colleges play a key role in training students for these jobs and offer a supportive environment for displaced and dissatisfied workers.
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Community Health and Well-Being
commentary
Should the Definition of Health Include a Measure of Tolerance?
Robert H. Brook
Feb 15, 2017
The Journal of the American Medical Association
Involving the medical community in helping to measure and increase tolerance could help make individuals and communities healthier. Since hate is both deadly and contagious, now is the time to engage the medical profession in eradicating it.
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Taiwan
commentary
History and Current Developments Regarding Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris
Feb 15, 2017
Global Taiwan Brief
As Asia-Pacific countries develop policies to regulate maritime zones of jurisdiction, the importance of coast guards as instruments of state policy has been growing. Taiwan's Coast Guard is an increasingly effective force.
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School Security
commentary
Body Cameras on Teachers Are Not the Answer to Classroom Management
Alex Sutherland
Feb 13, 2017
Schools Week
Teachers at two schools in England are wearing body cameras as part of a pilot program aimed at stopping classroom disruption. How they use the cameras could be counter-productive and may even escalate disruptive situations.
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